Trump Urges Zelensky to Pursue Diplomatic Deal Amidst Tomahawk Missile Dilemma

On Friday, Donald Trump advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate with Russia, dampening Kyiv’s request for Tomahawk missiles as he seeks a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

Just last month, Trump asserted that Ukraine could reclaim all of its land; however, after agreeing to a new summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his stance appeared to shift dramatically.

Following their discussion at the White House, Trump shared on social media that their meeting was «very interesting and cordial,» but he urged Zelensky—and similarly suggested to Putin—that it was time to cease hostilities and «make a DEAL!»

Trump also indicated that both parties should acknowledge their respective positions on the battlefield. «They should halt where they currently stand. Let both declare victory, and let history be the judge!» he stated.

In the aftermath of their meeting, Zelensky remarked that Russia is «intimidated» by the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, yet he maintained a «realistic» outlook on receiving such weaponry from Washington. He informed reporters that though discussions about long-range armaments occurred, they agreed to refrain from delving further into the topic due to the U.S.’s desire to avoid escalating tensions.

Zelensky arrived in Washington after a series of appeals for Tomahawks, aiming to leverage Trump’s increasing discontent with Putin following an unproductive summit in Alaska.

However, he left without the desired outcome as Trump seeks a new diplomatic accomplishment following last week’s peace agreement in Gaza.

Trump has expressed increased optimism concerning a potential agreement since his lengthy conversation with Putin on Thursday, during which they set a meeting for Budapest. «Hopefully, we’ll be able to conclude the conflict without focusing on Tomahawks,» Trump told the press, including an AFP reporter while hosting Zelensky at the White House.

He also suggested that he believes Putin «wants to bring an end to the war.»

Despite pushing for U.S.-made long-range weapons, Zelensky mentioned he would be open to exchanging «thousands» of Ukrainian drones for Tomahawks.

Zelensky congratulated Trump on his recent Middle East peace deal in Gaza and expressed hope that he could achieve similar success for Ukraine, stating, «I hope President Trump can do it.»

Diplomatic efforts to resolve Russia’s ongoing invasion have stagnated since the Alaska summit.

The Kremlin indicated on Friday that «numerous issues» need addressing before a meeting between Putin and Trump can take place, including determining each negotiating team’s composition.

Nonetheless, the Kremlin dismissed concerns about Putin having trouble crossing European airspace. Hungary stated it would facilitate Putin’s entrance and ensure «successful discussions» with the U.S., despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.

Since the onset of his second term, Trump’s stance on the Ukraine conflict has been notably inconsistent. Initially, Trump and Putin sought contact as the U.S. leader criticized Zelensky as a «dictator without elections.»

Tensions peaked in February when Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of «lacking the cards» during a contentious televised Oval Office meeting.

Relations have since improved as Trump has exhibited escalating frustration with Putin, while also keeping communication lines open, stating that they «get along.»

The U.S. leader has frequently altered his position on sanctions and various measures against Moscow in light of discussions with the Russian president.

In February 2022, Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, framing it as a «special military operation» to demilitarize the nation and curb NATO’s growth.

Currently, Russia occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine, much of which has been devastated by conflict. On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced its capture of three villages in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.